sarafadeen salihu blog

Yola— No fewer than 35 people, including five military personnel and a local hunter, were said to have been killed by a bomb explosion yesterday morning around Mararaba-Mubi area of Adamawa State. An eyewitness told newsmen in Yola, the state capital, that a combined team of the military and hunters were on routine patrol of the area following their successful recapture of Mubi town when the bomb planted by the insurgents exploded, killing 35 of them instantly. According to the eyewitness, the scene of the blast was a busy area where people gathered to transact business, adding that the explosive might have been planted there overnight while it went off in the morning as people gathered there. The eyewitness, who spoke to newsmen on phone, said the military had converted the venue of the blast to a checkpoint, since people were always at the spot in large numbers. According to him, “my house is some metres from the scene of the incident. I stood outside my compound watching the suburb...

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” This famous quote by Derek Curtis Bok, an American lawyer, educator and former president of Harvard University, holds so true especially for Nigeria. An ignorant man is a time bomb waiting to explode. Bok is simply saying that the disadvantages of not having an education far outweigh the cost of getting a good education. Stakeholders agree that for education to be affordable and available to all, there is need to employ e-learning strategy which involves extensive use of the internet. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, factors such as poor power supply, poor internet connectivity and lack of funds, militate against the deployment of e-learning strategy. To overcome the above factors and make e-learning possible in Nigeria, especially with the upsurge in the activities of Boko Haram in the North- East where it is becoming increasingly dangerous to go to school, Mr. Salvation Alibor, Chief Executive Officer of Syscomptech Communications Ltd,...

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” This famous quote by Derek Curtis Bok, an American lawyer, educator and former president of Harvard University, holds so true especially for Nigeria. An ignorant man is a time bomb waiting to explode. Bok is simply saying that the disadvantages of not having an education far outweigh the cost of getting a good education. Stakeholders agree that for education to be affordable and available to all, there is need to employ e-learning strategy which involves extensive use of the internet. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, factors such as poor power supply, poor internet connectivity and lack of funds, militate against the deployment of e-learning strategy. To overcome the above factors and make e-learning possible in Nigeria, especially with the upsurge in the activities of Boko Haram in the North- East where it is becoming increasingly dangerous to go to school, Mr. Salvation Alibor, Chief Executive Officer of Syscomptech Communications Ltd,...

Chief Executive Officer of ZODML, Mrs. Ifeoma Esiri, has lamented reports about a 20 per cent import duty the Federal Government placed on imported books, saying that literacy level in Nigeria is extremely low and the absence of functional school libraries has a lot to do with the situation. She averred, “An imposition of import duty of whatever amount can only turn a very bad situation into a monumental catastrophe.” The Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) last Thursday boosted reading and learning of students with four new libraries, making a total of 10 Oasis libraries donated in Lagos State. Speaking at the commissioning of Holy Cross Primary School library in Lagos where a collection of 1,048 books were donated by ZODML, Esiri said, “ZODML’s vision is to see a Nigeria in which everyone has the ability to educate themselves.” According to her, its mission is to provide free channels through which Nigerians can access information and learning tools to acquire knowl...

Chief Executive Officer of ZODML, Mrs. Ifeoma Esiri, has lamented reports about a 20 per cent import duty the Federal Government placed on imported books, saying that literacy level in Nigeria is extremely low and the absence of functional school libraries has a lot to do with the situation. She averred, “An imposition of import duty of whatever amount can only turn a very bad situation into a monumental catastrophe.” The Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) last Thursday boosted reading and learning of students with four new libraries, making a total of 10 Oasis libraries donated in Lagos State. Speaking at the commissioning of Holy Cross Primary School library in Lagos where a collection of 1,048 books were donated by ZODML, Esiri said, “ZODML’s vision is to see a Nigeria in which everyone has the ability to educate themselves.” According to her, its mission is to provide free channels through which Nigerians can access information and learning tools to acquire knowl...

TheAll Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, warned, yesterday, that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was gradually destroying the nation with the sustenance of the culture of corruption and impunity. He also said Boko Haram insurgents, kidnappers and armed robbers could over-run the country, if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was allowed to rule Nigeria for another four years. Buhari spoke in Asaba, Delta State and Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at a meeting with APC faithful to woo delegates for party presidential primaries. Speaking at the APC’s Secretariat in Yenagoa, he urged Nigerians to vote out the ruling PDP and end the era of corruption that had threatened the foundation of the nation. President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) He said: “What is wrong with Nigeria? What is wrong is massive corruption. And the commentators have said it, written about it, and I believe them, if we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, corru...

Namibia will vote in Africa’s first electronic ballot Friday, a general election that will usher in a new president and quotas to put more women in government. But opposition parties have launched an 11th-hour challenge to the use of the Indian-made e-voting machines, claiming the lack of a paper trail could open the door to vote rigging. They are calling for the elections to be delayed until February. A court is expected to rule on the issue Wednesday, but commentators say the vote is almost certain to go ahead. If and when it does, Namibians will chose 72 members of the national assembly and one of nine presidential candidates, ranging from the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters to the white minority Republican Party. Around 1.2 million Namibians are eligible to cast their ballots at nearly 4,000 electronic voting stations across this vast desert nation. But there is only one likely winner.SWAPO candidate and current prime minister, 73-year-old Hage Geingob, has run on a platform o...

Singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and businessman, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (D’Banj) has rubbished the recent allegations that he is in a multiple debt. The multiple-award winner took to twitter to react to the allegations. He tweeted: ‘Silence. Here is my response to the false rumors’, with a link to the newly released music video of Oritsefemi’sDouble WahalaPart 2. It will be recalled that a section of the media reported that the pop star seems to be going through an unpleasant period in his career as some people who claim to be owed by D’banj are threatening a legal action against him.

Music star and HKN gang boss, Davido (David Adedeji Adeleke) reportedly spent over N35m on brand new cars for both his manager, Kamal Ajiboye and his producer, Sheyi Akerele (Shizzi). Davido bought a brand new black Mercedes 450 GL which cost N12m for his manager while that of his producer, is a brand new black Porsche Cayenne which cost N24m.

ABUJA— Former Head of State and All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, General Muhammadu Buhari, has gone to social media to raise funds for his presidential campaign. *Buhari The initiative through a crowd funding platform onfacebookis a new development in the history of Nigeria’s presidential political campaigns. In a message on hisfacebookpage, Buhari urged for sacrificial giving from his supporters, noting that he was not ignorant of their already difficult living conditions. He, however, cautioned that sacrifice was needed in order to put an end to the life of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and with it, according to him, the tide of corruption, insecurity and other pains on Nigerians. The message posted last Saturday had as at press time drawn 1,683 likes and been shared by 797 persons. In the message, Gen. Buhari said: “As we have made it clear, our campaign is going to be funded, planned and run by ordinary Nigerian citizens like you. This is in recognitio...

ABUJA —Indications emerged yesterday that members of the House of Representatives are on the same page with their Senate counterparts in their bid to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan. It was reliably gathered that the assemblymen would start impeachment process against the President immediately it reconvenes next Wednesday. This is just as the lawmakers coordinating the impeachment process have disclosed that they have identified over 50 constitutional violations against the President, which would form part of the impeachment notice. A ranking officer in the House who revealed this said both chambers have resolved to work together for the common good of the country by impeaching President Jonathan for “incompetence, corruption and unprecedented impunity.” He revealed that the impeachment plot against Jonathan was not a partisan affair, explaining that lawmakers from all the political parties have identified with the “cause” and will not give up until the President is “sent packing....

Former President of Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the action of some fraudulent insurance companies who try to avoid payment of claims in the event of a disaster. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Obasanjo was reacting to the refusal by an insurance company to pay claims on the burnt property of one of his adopted daughters Mrs Morenike Oladunni-Omorodion. The former president who refused to disclose the identity of the insurer also said that the company has been doing everything possible to avoid paying the claims. Omorodion’s property got burnt in the month of July and up to the time of going to the press, nothing has been done to assuage the loss and inconvenience. Speaking to Vanguard, Omorodion said that she has lost confidence in insurance in Nigeria adding that since the incident occurred, the insurance firm has been insensitive to her plight. She said, “The house is insured but the insurance company is trying to play funny. I will tell you that up till now, the only thing I...

Meantime, Governor Fayose has restored all the privileges of former Governor Olusegun Oni, which were stopped by the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi. A statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said Governor Fayose took the step in appreciation of the contributions of past leaders in the state. “Governor Ayo Fayose is restoring all the privileges of former Governor Segun Oni. His portrait among those who have led the state that was removed from the Governor’s Office by former governor Kayode Fayemi has been returned. All those who served with him and whose portraits and other souvenirs were removed by the past administration such as former chief press secretaries among others, have been returned. “It was the Fayemi administration that even stopped their financial entitlements when it made the House of Assembly to pass a bill that Oni and Fayose were not due for such. “The excuse they gave was that Fayose did not complete his tenure ...

Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Musa Amadu, has said Nigeria are yet to receive the nine million dollars prize money they earned at the last World Cup because of the leadership crisis that has bedevilled the country. “The money is ready, but the katakata (crisis) we have had has meant we are yet to access it,” NFF general secretary Amadu disclosed in a radio interview monitored in Abuja yesterday. “We believe that once everything is sorted, we will get the cash.” The leadership tussle began soon after the country’s exit at the hands of France in Brazil 2014. Amadu also said they are very much aware of the $3.8 million advanced to them by the federal government to offset the appearance fee for the players at Brazil and are obliged to refund it once they get the money. “We have a memo from the sports ministry reminding us of our obligation to the government and once we get the money, we will pay up,” he said. The Super Eagles reached the knockout stage of the Wo...

ABUJA—NATIONAL leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tuesday warned leaders, governors and elders of All Progressives Congress, APC, to respect the office of the President of the country and stop insulting him. According to the party, such an act poses a threat to the very survival of democracy and Nigeria as a nation. The PDP also expressed concern that the warning last week by security experts that some opposition leaders might be planning to intensify mayhem against Nigerians to justify their only campaign point, might be responsible for the increased spate of bombings, following the declaration of President Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election. The PDP also raised alarm that while it was preparing for the 2015 general elections with a view to winning, the APC was actively planning to scheme itself into power in 2015, using violent uprising as replacement for planned peaceful polls. The PDP in a statement yesterday by National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa M...

PORT HARCOURT—A final year student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, has been arrested by the Police during a cult initiation ceremony near the back gate of the university. Spokesman of the police in the state, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said a graduate of Cross River State University was also arrested during the ceremony, adding that a Beretta pistol and three rounds of 9mm ammunition were among items recovered from them. He said the Police also foiled what would have been a major cult clash between two rival cult groups at Okwuzi in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, noting that seven suspected cultists were also arrested. He said: “Similarly, on same day at about 1:30p.m., information received had it that some suspected cultists were sighted with arms near the back gate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Port Harcourt, initiating new members. “A team of policemen stormed the area and arrested the suspects.” Police further appealed...

PORT HARCOURT—A final year student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, has been arrested by the Police during a cult initiation ceremony near the back gate of the university. Spokesman of the police in the state, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said a graduate of Cross River State University was also arrested during the ceremony, adding that a Beretta pistol and three rounds of 9mm ammunition were among items recovered from them. He said the Police also foiled what would have been a major cult clash between two rival cult groups at Okwuzi in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, noting that seven suspected cultists were also arrested. He said: “Similarly, on same day at about 1:30p.m., information received had it that some suspected cultists were sighted with arms near the back gate of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Port Harcourt, initiating new members. “A team of policemen stormed the area and arrested the suspects.” Police further appealed...

LAGOS—Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Orelope Adefulire, yesterday, said that the scourge of rape and domestic violence will not be tolerated in the state. Addressing activists, civil society groups and advocates, who took part in a walk to create awareness on rape in Lagos State at her office, Adefulire who was represented by a Special Assistant attached to the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr Risikat Akinyode said the menace must be put to an end in the state and indeed in the country. Earlier in her address, founder of the Mirabel Centre, Itoro Eze-Anaba, the organisers of the walk, said that the aim of the rape walk with the theme, “Not in our communities” is to provide a platform where all stakeholders in the fight against rape and sexual assault, can mobilise the community to take action against perpetrators of rape and report such cases to appropriate authority. She said: “Ikeja Motor Park was strategically chosen as the meeting point as this will enable us to create awareness amo...

ABEOKUTA—Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday, gave a shocking revelation of how he was diagnosed and eventually cured of deadly prostate cancer. Soyinka while addressing newsmen at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, said he decided to make his health status public to encourage cancer patients to go for treatment and not to take the disease as a death sentence. Cured after 10 months The literary icon disclosed that he was diagnosed with cancer last December and was cured 10 months after. With Soyinka at the briefing was one of his children, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who is the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, and founder/director, African Cancer Centre, Lagos. Said Soyinka: “In December last year, I discovered that I had cancer, we were making sure that, that was what it was before going for the other tests and once it was confirmed, I was sure because in my family, we had an uncle, at a time who died mysteriously as far as we were concerned. “His death was attributed...

LAGOS—Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, yesterday, fixed December 11, 2014, for the preliminary hearing of all the motions filed before the court, over the alleged extra-judicial killing of four youths, Anthony Ezenwafor, Chukwuemika Ezeofor, Izuchukwu Ezeama and Alloysius Osigwe, said to have been shot dead by policemen attached to Aguda Surulere Police Station, on suspicion that they were armed robbers, is being challenged by their kinsmen in Lagos. The Ekwulobia Imeobi Youths Association of Ladipo Market, to which the four youths belonged, had filed a suit against the Attorney General of the Federation and Inspector General of Police, IGP, over the killing. The four were said to be working for one Chief Jude Okoli, a businessman at Ladipo International Market, as apprentice traders.

ASABA—ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State branch, yesterday, stormed Asaba in protest against the kidnap of one of its members, Dr. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, and his younger brother, Mr. Tega Tonukari, and called on their abductors to release them unconditionally. The protesters, who were led by Chairman of the union, Professor Abel Diakparomre, stormed Government House with over three buses and one Prado jeep, singing songs of solidarity, and carrying placards with inscriptions such asDELSU is under siege;Stop kidnapping lecturers;Bring back Dr. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, amongst others. The protesters also went to the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Asaba station, and the state police headquarters, lamenting that Dr. Nyerhovwo Tonukari had spent over 44 days in the kidnappers’ den. Speaking in front of Government House, Professor Diakparomre said: “We have cried and reported the kidnap of Dr. Nyerhovwo Tonukari at different times and occasio...

Theimmediate past deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State and leading governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Nsima Ekere, has called on the party to ensure a free and fair governorship primary election which holds on December 8, 2014. Speaking with newsmen shortly after receiving his clearance certificate from the PDP screening panel for South-South Zone in Port Harcourt, Mr. Ekere stressed that a level playing field was necessaries to make the primary credible and acceptable to all the aspirants. He urged fellow aspirants to eschew bitterness and see the contest as a game in which only one winner would emerge.

BENIN— Edo State House of Assembly member, who was attacked at the state legislators’ quarters’ last month, Mr. Rasaq Momoh, has said that he had forgiven those who attacked him even though the attack nearly claimed his life. Momoh, who returned to the country last week after receiving medical treatment abroad, however, wondered why the state governor, hates his person. He attributed the hatred to his popularity among the Afemai people. Momoh, who spoke with newsmen at Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state when members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, added that he has been humbled by members of his constituency, whom he said purchased nomination form for him to return to the state Assembly while he was on the sick bed. “I have put all that behind me. I have found out that the less I talk about it, the easier I forget about it and the more I feel at peace with myself. I got a rousing welcome from my people last w...

OWERRI—Imo State branch of Deaf Sports Association, yesterday, barricaded Government House, Owerri, to protest alleged reluctance by Governor Rochas Okorocha to release their accrued stipend, amounting to N2.3 million. The protesters, numbering over 150, carried placards, some of which readOkorocha pay us our money;We can’t hear, but physically and mentally capable;We want to participate in the forthcoming national deaf games, please pay us, among others. According to a release distributed to newsmen at the scene of the protest, the association’s Chairman, Mr. Chamberlin Inyama, expressed shock that the funds meant for the support of the association had been inexplicably withheld by government. He said the non-release of the fund had effectively scuttled their planned trip to Abuja, to participate in the 3rd National Games for the deaf. “Governor Okorocha has failed to release the N2.3 million, which is our subvention as a registered association in Imo State,” he said. No government f...

A host of aspirants have picked nomination forms to contest various positions on the platform of different political parties. The incumbent Governor Kashim Shettima is the sole governorship aspirant on the banner of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former governor of the State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is perfecting strategies to stop Shettima from being re-elected. Adoption of Shettima as APC consensus standard bearer Two weeks ago, hundreds of APC stakeholders stormed the Multi – Purpose Hall of Borno State Government House with the sole aim of endorsing Governor Shettima for second term and that was after 28 lawmakers in the state House of Assembly were alleged to have purchased the APC governorship nomination and expression of interest forms for him. Party faithful Ali Modu Sherrif at the conference The APC stakeholders including federal and state legislators, past and serving local government chairmen, APC execut...

Powered by Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system while delivering cutting edge features at retail-friendly price, TECNO Mobile has deepened penetration in the android segment with the introduction of its latest flagship, Phantom Z. Barely four months of its introduction in the smartphone ecosystem, the flagship, according to market findings has continued to to be the toast of fans of android phone as a result of its innovative features including a 7.9mm unibody design; a 2GB RAM that can store memory of up to 32GB; an 3030mAH battery that delivers 24 hours of talk time with up to 960 hours of standby time on a 3G network Accordingly, the device flaunts a stylish high-end back cover, a dual camera complete with the first dual flash camera that allows the user to create stunning selfies at daytime or nighttime. Packaging Being the latest swag song of Tecno Mobile, the product comes with a very attractive blue and white packaging with added accessories to entice buyers. On purchase, yo...

MAIDUGURI— At least 67 people were feared dead and about 98 others seriously injured yesterday when two female suicide bombers hit a popular Monday market along One-Way Road, Chalarams, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Over 30 shops and 25 vehicles were also destroyed. Unconfirmed report said one of the female suicide bombers was a mad woman suspected to have been used by terrorists, leaving over 16 people including the mad woman dead on the spot, while those who sustained injuries were rushed to University of Maiduguri and the State Specialists Hospital for treatment. The incident which occurred at about 11am forced many traders, students and residents to close. The explosion occurred at a time Governor Kashim Shettima was having security meetings with security chiefs in the state. This is the second most deadly attacks along Chalarams Road at Monday market. In 2011, some terrorists invaded the market road and killed over 10 traders. Health worker, Dogara Shehu, said he counted mo...

Pope Francis began a lightning visit to European institutions in Strasbourg on Tuesday where he was expected to call for a “tired” Europe hit by economic crises and surging nationalism to reclaim a leadership role. Francis will leave his popemobile behind and — unusually for the crowd-loving Argentine — dedicate his time to addressing the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in a four-hour trip, the shortest abroad by any pope. Wearing a white coat to protect him from the cold, the pontiff descended the steps of an Alitalia plane on arrival in the eastern French city and took part in a brief welcoming ceremony, an AFP journalist travelling with him said. In what is the second visit by a pope to the parliament in Strasbourg after John Paul II in 1988, Francis will also meet briefly with new European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and outgoing European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. “It’s going to be a big day,” the 77-year-old pope, looking pale and tired but calm,...

A teenage Pakistani girl has been shot dead by her uncle following a row over loud music, police said Tuesday. The incident happened Saturday in the Kallar Kahar valley in Punjab province’s Chakwal district, around 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the capital Islamabad. “The girl Rehana Bibi was alone at her home and was listening to music when her uncle Muhammad Gulistan… came to her house and asked to lower the volume,” Sadat Ali, an official on duty at Kallar Kahar police station, told AFP. “On her refusal, they quarrelled and Gulistan shot her dead,” said Ali, adding that Bibi was aged about 17. Another police official, Ali Akbar, said they were attempting to arrest the killer. Police said they were not aware of any family feud leading up to the attack. In Pakistan’s highly patriarchal and often violent society, women are frequently killed over minor issues or so-called matters of “honour”. The Aurat Foundation, a campaign group that works to improve women’s lives in Pakistan, says ...

LOKOJA—A lecturer with Kogi State University, KSU, Anyigba, Associate Professor Justice Olurotimi Otitolaye, has been reported killed by cult members in the institution. Professor Otitolaye. Vanguardgathered that Professor Otitolaye, who had been championing war against examination malpractice in the institution, was abducted around Stadium Road, near the campus on Friday night, on his way to a supermarket. His bullet-riddled body was found in the early of hours of Sunday at Ejule, which is about 8 kilometres away from the school. The cultists were said to have fired sporadic shots into the air to scare away people living around the area before taking the lecturer to an unknown destination. The murdered lecturer, simply called Otis, was a renowned agriculturist, who was a former pre-degree director and a lecturer in Faculty of Agriculture in the Department of Agric Economics and Extension at the university. Otis, who was said to be a jovial, nice and well-respected person, also held a...

ABEOKUTA—The Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Senator Adegbenga Kaka yesterday said that contrary to insinuations within the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, the Social Democratic Party is genuinely interested in contesting and winning the 2015 elections in the state. Senator Rafiu Adegbenga Kaka The lawmaker who also denied insinuations that the SDP had forged an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state for the 2015 elections, said the SDP was not interested in spoiling the chances of the ruling APC. The lawmaker who stated this while speaking with newsmen during the commissioning of two blocks of three classrooms he donated to the Moslem Primary School, Imodi-Ijebu in Odogbolu Local Government Area and Zumurat-ul-Islamiyyah Primary School, Ojumele-Makun, Sagamu as well as the foundation laying at St. Paul Primary School, Ijoku, Sagamu Local Government Area. Three senators, five House of Representatives members and other A...

ABEOKUTA—The Senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Senator Adegbenga Kaka yesterday said that contrary to insinuations within the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, the Social Democratic Party is genuinely interested in contesting and winning the 2015 elections in the state. Senator Rafiu Adegbenga Kaka The lawmaker who also denied insinuations that the SDP had forged an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state for the 2015 elections, said the SDP was not interested in spoiling the chances of the ruling APC. The lawmaker who stated this while speaking with newsmen during the commissioning of two blocks of three classrooms he donated to the Moslem Primary School, Imodi-Ijebu in Odogbolu Local Government Area and Zumurat-ul-Islamiyyah Primary School, Ojumele-Makun, Sagamu as well as the foundation laying at St. Paul Primary School, Ijoku, Sagamu Local Government Area. Three senators, five House of Representatives members and other A...

Ado Ekiti—A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State, capital, has restrained the police from re-arresting the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Jide Awe, and four other members over alleged murder of Ayo Jeje and Juliana Adewumi during a political crisis in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Others granted relief are Faboro Ojo John, Aniramu Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu. Defendants are the Inspector General of Police, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Plateau State Commissioner of Police and Ekiti State Commissioner of Police. In a motion under the enforcement of their fundamental rights and fundamental rights enforcement procedure brought before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, the plaintiffs in suit no. FHC/J/CS/102/2014 prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional the planned and threatened re-arrest, detention and arraignment in connection with the fact leading to their previous arrest and arraignment for the mur...

Ado Ekiti—A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State, capital, has restrained the police from re-arresting the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Jide Awe, and four other members over alleged murder of Ayo Jeje and Juliana Adewumi during a political crisis in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Others granted relief are Faboro Ojo John, Aniramu Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu. Defendants are the Inspector General of Police, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Plateau State Commissioner of Police and Ekiti State Commissioner of Police. In a motion under the enforcement of their fundamental rights and fundamental rights enforcement procedure brought before Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa, the plaintiffs in suit no. FHC/J/CS/102/2014 prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional the planned and threatened re-arrest, detention and arraignment in connection with the fact leading to their previous arrest and arraignment for the mur...

KANO—A fake female suicide bomber was taken into custody by the police in Kano yesterday, following a bomb scare. An eyewitness told Vanguard that the incident occurred around 12.30p.m. when the police guard on duty at Kwali Police Division suspected a strange middle-aged woman inBurqa(veil) heading to the station. The account had it that “the strange woman refused to stop for scrutiny, when ordered by the police guard at the security post.” The encounter at the security post drew the attention of armed personnel, who mobilized themselves and surrounded the strange woman for failing to comply with police order. The account added that the strange woman said: “I am ready to die. But mark you, there are two others at large in the city.” A security source, who corroborated the eyewitness account, said: “We acted fast and got her sleeping with a substance fired at her. “To our surprise, the woman had covered herself with used pomade containers and sundry harmless objects.” The security sou...

The Nigerian Bar Association has warned politicians not to allow personal interest override the collective purpose for which the country was founded. House of Representatives during plenary The NBA, in a statement reacting to the invasion of the Federal House of Representatives by the police last week by its President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, condemned the manner the police invaded the National Assembly and its attack on the lawmakers. Besides, the NBA queried the argument canvased by the police over security reports, which it claimed, informed the invasion. According to the association, the selective treatment of some of the lawmakers on the day of the incident “raises doubt in respect of the authenticity of the alleged security reports. The implementation of the security measures also lacked transparency and good faith.” It also condemned the attitude of some of the lawmakers who scaled the gate of the National Assembly, saying “their acts raise serious questions about the charac...

PORT HARCOURT— SIXTEEN aggrieved governorship aspirants of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, yesterday, urged the screening committee of the party in Port Harcourt to dismiss petitions alleging that some of them were not members of the party. The committee screening Assembly and governorship aspirants of the party in the South-South zone commenced work at the party’s South South zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday. Professor Israel Owate, who spoke for the aggrieved aspirants at the venue of the screening exercise, said the petitions were allegedly sponsored by one of the governorship aspirants of the party, claiming that most of the 16 aspirants were not members of the party. Urging the screening committee to disregard the petition, Owate said it was regrettable that one of the aspirants could make such allegations against the other aspirants. “Just yesterday, at the governorship screening panel, most prominent aspirants were confronted with spurious, trumped...

PORT HARCOURT— SIXTEEN aggrieved governorship aspirants of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, yesterday, urged the screening committee of the party in Port Harcourt to dismiss petitions alleging that some of them were not members of the party. The committee screening Assembly and governorship aspirants of the party in the South-South zone commenced work at the party’s South South zonal secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday. Professor Israel Owate, who spoke for the aggrieved aspirants at the venue of the screening exercise, said the petitions were allegedly sponsored by one of the governorship aspirants of the party, claiming that most of the 16 aspirants were not members of the party. Urging the screening committee to disregard the petition, Owate said it was regrettable that one of the aspirants could make such allegations against the other aspirants. “Just yesterday, at the governorship screening panel, most prominent aspirants were confronted with spurious, trumped...

LAGOS—The application by Dr. Wale Babalakin and his co-defendants are asking an Ikeja High Court to quash the alleged N4.7 billion fraud charges preferred against them was yesterday opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. At the resumed hearing of the matter before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed all the applications on the ground that the prosecutorial powers of the Federal Government, through the EFCC, was governed by the constitution. Babalakin, his two companies, Bi-Courtney Limited and Stabilini Vision Limited (3rd and 4th defendants) alongside Alex Okoh and Renix Nigeria Ltd, are facing a 27-count charge for fraudulently transferring N4.7 billion on behalf of the convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori. According to the commission, Babalakin and his co-defendants fraudulently assisted Ibori to transfer huge sums of money through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase o...

A mild drama played out weekend at Ogidi High Court presided over by Justice Ike Ogu as a widow, Mrs. Nwakaego Mgbogo, and the police through their lawyer exchange words on the circumstances that led to the death of her husband, Raymond Mgbogo, in Peoples Club Police Post, Onitsha, Anambra State. Counsel to the Police, while cross examining Mrs. Mgbogo, told the court that the man died from exhaustion suffered at Taraba State Prison where he was imprisoned before the police brought him to Onitsha but the widow told the court that the police tortured her husband to death in her presence. Meanwhile, Onitsha branch of Izzi Nnodo Progressive Union, Ebony State, has made an application before an Anambra State High Court, sitting in Ogidi, idemili North Local Government Area for the release of the remains of the deceased, Raymond Mgbogo, who allegedly died in police detention in 2008. In the matter of an application for damages for wrongful torture to death of Rayomond Mgbogo and the releas...

Lagos—Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, has condemned the invasion of the state office of the All Progressives Congress,, APC, by operatives of the Department of State Services. Ikuforiji made the condemnation in a statement made available yesterday in Lagos by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Adebayo. The APC state secretariat was allegedly ransacked on Saturday by people suspected to be security agents. “The unprovoked and needless forceful invasion of the IT Centre of the APC in Lagos State by men suspected to be agents of the DSS has come to my notice and the entire members of the Assembly with total shock and disbelief. “While this unwarranted invasion should never have been allowed to happen, it should however be condemned by all right thinking Nigerians as it portends grave dangers for our tottering democracy. “It is even the more worrisome and depressing that this invasion is coming barely three days after the police sealed off the Federal House of Repre...

LAGOS—Eleven days after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, offices were shut nationwide, workers of the agency under the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, weekend vowed not to return to work until all their internal and external demands are met. Also, the MHWUN, NAFDAC Branch, has directed all NAFDAC staff invited for the forthcoming promotion interviews billed for December 4 and 8, 2014 not to honour the invitation unless NAFDAC accedes to their demands. Briefing journalists, weekend in Lagos, Chairman, MHWUN, Federal Area Council, Lagos, Comrade Stephen Ibe, maintained that the agency must solve the internal and external problems before workers will return to work. The striking NAFDAC workers are demanding implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS; payment of productivity allowance known as 13th month salary; payment of promotional arrears of 2012 and 2013; payment of first 28 days to workers employed in ...

The Federal Government has said it plans to cut subsidies on petroleum products by half next year after sharp falls in global crude prices, spurred a reversal of its 2015 budget downwards. President Goodluck Jonathan submitted the revised budget figures to lawmakers last week, proposing to spend 458.68 billion naira ($2.59 bln) on petrol subsidy in 2015, down from 971.14 billion naira presented for 2014. It also assumed further cuts to petrol subsidies in 2016 to 408.68 billion naira and 371.18 billion naira for 2017. The Minister of finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has proposed lowering the assumed benchmark oil price for the 2015 budget to $73 per barrel from the $78 proposed in September, after global crude prices collapsed. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters last week that declines in the price of oil, which has lost almost 30 percent since July, would impact the economy, requiring the government to cut non-essential spending and raise mo...